National Institutes of Health

The Division of Extramural Research and Training of the National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is responsible for the Institute's
scientific, fiscal, and administrative management of grant-supported research
and training programs. These programs are focused on understanding direct
relationships between human exposures to environmental agents and potential
effects on health. Research is supported at universities, medical centers,
research institutions, and other research organizations throughout the
U.S. and the world.

The Chemical Exposures and Molecular Biology Branch administers research
programs in molecular biology; carcinogenesis; biomarkers of chemical
exposures and doses, individual susceptibility, and effects; and environmental
epidemiology. The Organ and Systems Toxicology Branch supports mechanistic-based
research focused on examining non-cancer endpoints of exposures to environmental
toxicants. Research supported is concentrated on the molecular mechanisms
by which environmental factors disrupt cellular function within target
tissues and lead to human health problems. Much of the research involves
studies at the intracellular and genetic levels; however, population-based
research projects are also supported to identify environmental substances
that cause or exacerbate human health problems.

The Division's Worker Education Training Program supports the development
of training programs for workers and their supervisors involved in hazardous
waste management and remediation. The model program encourages innovation
in training methods and enhances private sector training by demonstrating
new and cost-effective training techniques and materials.

The Center for Population Research (CPR) at the National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is responsible for supporting
research involving population processes and the physical environment.
The Reproductive Sciences Branch of CPR supports research on environmental
influences on reproduction. The Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch
supports studies of how human population change affects the natural environment.
Both branches use investigator- initiated research grants and a wide variety
of other funding mechanisms.